David Santos, former Bear at the University of California – Berkeley and US National Team Member, will be officially inducted into the Chico Sports Hall of Fame during the annual Chico Sports Hall of Fame Athletics Banquet on Tuesday, May 9th.
Courtesy Roque Santos
Santos was a nine time All-American at Cal. After walking-on his freshman year, Santos broke the 400 IM Pac-10 record at the 1978 Pac-10 Championships. He was on two national championship teams in 1979 and 1980. David was the team captain of both championship teams. Santos also competed at the 1979 World University Games and won a bronze medal in the 400 Individual medley.
Since the US did not compete in the 1980 Olympic Games due to the boycott, Santos won a silver medal in the 1980 Alternate Games. Of this accomplishment Santos remarked, “Back in that day, you had a short window to train and try to do well. After age 21 or 22, you were pretty much done. The (Alternate Games) was a nice consolation, but it was a let-down that there was no real Olympics.”
Santos now lives in Seattle and is a practicing plastic surgeon.
Courtesy Roque Santos
I remember the name santos at cph swim club yes there was no way i was good enough to seim at Cal but Chico state was the program def for very good but lessr talented swimmers i wish i had gone there actually instead of Hawaii looking back now
I remember, im also sad to have learned chico star has not had a team since 1993 that was shocking
Happy for you
Go Bears!!!
Way to go Dave!
Tears in my eyes! Very proud!